Henna is sometimes applied directly to the affected area for dandruff, eczema,scabies, fungal infections, and wounds.

In manufacturing, henna is used in cosmetics, hair dyes, and hair care products; and as a dye for nails, hands, and clothing.

People also use henna on the skin as temporary “tattoos.”

How does it work?

Henna contains substances that might help fight certain infections. There is also some information that henna might decrease the growth of tumors, prevent or reduce spasms, decrease inflammation, and relieve pain.

DESCRIPTIONHenna is a wonderful gift of nature, a plant with small flowers. It is a small shrub which is around 2.5 m high, multi branched with spine tipped branchlets. Leaves are elliptical in shape , wider in the middle described as Lanceolate in botanical term. Henna flowers have four sepals and a 2 mm calyx tube with 3 mm spread lobes. Petals are white or red and obvate. Fruits are small brownish in colour with 4 to 8 mm diameter. Approximately 30 to 50 seeds are found per fruit which are opened into four splits

We all know the importance of a woman’s hair to her regardless of her age or lifestyle. It is one of the first things you notice in a woman(or should I say anybody) and can be positively termed as the most vital ingredient in your beauty receipe. Be it straight, curly, wavy, long, mid-length or short, we all want our tresses to be healthy, voluminous and glossy. It’s rightly said that healthy mane is like a shining crown. But, in today’s day and age, where there’s so much to take care of… work, dead-lines, social participation and other n number of things, it becomes a tad difficult to spare time for hair-care. Add to it the raging levels of stress, pollution, unhealthy lifestyle and eating habits (afterall most of us love junk), and as a result we face a tough time maintaining the lustrous locks.

Most of the times, just following the ‘shampoo and condition’ routine does not render much help and treating your hair to other chemicals can only cause more damage. That’s when home-made remedies come in handy.

Henna is one of the most beneficial herbs and can do wonders for your hair. It has cooling properties and when applied to the scalp can soothe and cleanse it. Here are some more benefits of henna.

-Henna is an excellent conditioner for your hair. It not only adds shine and volume to it, but also shields it from further damage by forming a coating on it.

-Henna helps restore the natural acid-alkaline balance on your scalp and cleanses it of dirt without altering the natural balance unlike chemical-based products.

-It promotes hair growth, reduces hair fall, dandruff and other scalp problems. You can even use it for colouring your hair as it does not have any side effects and gives a deep colour with a reddish tinge.

-Henna also prevents your hair from greying and thinning making them healthy and lustrous.

Apart from various hair benefits, henna also helps cure acne, boils and warts. If you have a burn injury, mix some henna powder with water and apply it on the affected areas for instant relief. It not only heals the wound, it also prevents infection and bacterial growth.

Henna hair packs

If you have dandruff

Take some fenugreek seeds (methi – about one tsp) and soak them overnight in water. Now grind them. Take some mustard oil and heat it with a few leaves of henna in it. After cooling the oil, strain it to get rid of coarse particles. Now add the groundmethi paste in the oil and apply it on your scalp. Leave it for a good 30 minutes before washing your hair. Use weekly once for good results.

If you suffer from hair fall

Use mustard oil mixed with henna leaves but add one tsp of lemon juice or fresh yoghurt to it instead of methi.Massage this oil on your scalp. Leave it for 30 minutes and then wash your hair.

If you want to condition your hair

Soak henna powder overnight in freshly brewed black or green tea. Add a hint of essential oil or a beaten egg before you apply the mixture to your hair. Keep it for an hour before you wash it off. This will add volume to your locks, improve the texture and add shine to them.

General Tips:

-You can use henna even after hair is damaged with chemical cremes, but you need to wait 45 to 60 days to apply henna because it won’t stick or give a better result on colored hair.

-Henna prevents you from brittle hair, split ends, and hair fall.

-Avoid henna usage if you have severe scalp infections and extra dry hair.

-If you think henna doesn’t suit your hair, then its better to maintain a healthy diet for better hair.

These are the benefits of using henna for healthier hair through home remedies. We Hope these henna packs will help you in maintaining the shine and bounce in your hair. A little effort, plenty of water, healthy eating habits, and exercise…include these things in your daily routine and you are good to go! Shine on..

Henna or Mehandi is a medicinal plant. Its bark and seeds are used in Unani and Ayurvedic medicines. Henna is a middle-sized shrub with many branches. It yields small white or pinkish fragrant flowers in large terminal bunches and small round fruits. This fascinating plant known world-wide for the beautiful colouring dye used by the orientals to colour their hands and body.

Henna oil is used during medicinal treatment of wide range of ailment ranging from headache to leprosy and other skin disorders. As a medicinal plant henna is used as an astringent, anti-hemorrhagic intestinal anti-neoplastic, cardio-inhibitory, hypotensive, and a sedative. The Henna extracts exihibit antibacterial, antifungal, and ultraviolet light screening activity.

The oil of its flower relieves muscular pains, while its seeds are used in deodorants and to regulate menstruation. Henna oil induce sleep, cure headaches and bruises. The bark is also used to treat symptoms of jaundice and enlargement of the liver and spleen. Henna oil can be applied to the skin to treat eczema, scabies, fungal infections and burns.

Medicinal Benefits of Henna oil / seeds

Arthritis: Henna oil is used for rheumatic and arthritic pains. Ground leaves are applied to sore flints to ease rheumatism. The juice of the medicinal plant can be applied to the skin for headaches, and the henna oil is applied to hair to prevent it from graying.

Dysentery: The bark of the plant is very effective in the treatment of dysentery. The seeds are powdered, mixed with ghee and rolled into small balls and then taken with water.

Liver Disorders: The bark of the plant is very effective in the treatment of liver disorders like Jaundice and enlargement of the liver. Henna can be consumed in the form of powder from 1 to 5 decigrams doses or it can be taken in decoction from 30 to 50 grams doses to cure liver disorders.

Baldness: Using mustard oil boiled with Henna leaves promotes healthy hair growth. 250 grams of mustard oil is boiled in a pan. Some 50 to 60 grams of Henna leaves are added gradually to the oil and heated. The oil is then filtered through a cloth and stored in a bottle. Regular massage with this oil produces abundant hair.

Prickly Heat: Henna leaves are beneficial in the treatment of prickly heat. The leaves ground with water are applied over the affected area.

Headaches: Henna flowers cure headaches caused by the heat of the sun. A plaster made of Henna, flowers in vinegar and applied over forehead relieves the headaches.

Skin Disease: Henna leaves are very effective in the treatment of skin disorders like boils & burns. Coarsely ground Henna leaves applied to the affected parts cures the disorders. It can be applied beneficially in rheumatic joints, inflammatory swelling, bruises & leprosy. The Ayurvedic system uses thy henna leaves to treat vitiligo (pale patches on the skin where pigment is lost). And the seeds are also used to fever. Henna contains natural ingredients which are vital for nourishment of hair. It has a bond with the hair structure as it serves to penetrate, cleanse and thicken the hair shafts thus improving its quality. It also has great dandruff fighting ability. Henna is mainly used as a colouring agent. It is mixed with other natural dyes and is largely used as a hair dye and in textiles. The henna oil obtained form its flower is used in perfumery. In India, Henna paste is applied to decorate palms & heels on special occasions. Especially in marriages the bride’s palms & legs are decorated with Henna paste as a customary ritual.

Powers of Henna Plant

Applied henna powder to decorate feet and hands for its cooling properties

Henna powder with water mixed as part of marriage rituals for decorating the bride

Henna used in medications for its healing properties as a skin healer and cleanser

It is used to hair as a natural conditioner and colorant and stain the fingers of pharaohs before their mummification

Applied henna by persons to be in compliance with religion because it makes the individual more conscious of the Earth’s energies.